Abstract
Global plant sulphur (S) deficiency is increasing because of a reduction in sulphate-based fertiliser application combined with continuous S withdrawal during harvest. Here, we applied 13C, 15N, 14C, and 35S quad labelling of the S-containing amino acids cysteine (Cys) and methionine (Met) to understand S cycling and microbial S transformations in the soil. The soil microorganisms absorbed the applied Cys and Met within minutes and released SO42− within hours. The SO42− was reutilised by the MB within days. The initial microbial utilisation and SO42− release were determined by amino acid structure. Met released 2.5-fold less SO42− than Cys. The microbial biomass retained comparatively more C and S from Met than Cys. The microorganisms decomposed Cys to pyruvate and H2S whereas they converted Met to α-ketobutyrate and S-CH3. The microbial stoichiometries of C, N, and S derived from Cys and Met were balanced after 4 d by Cys-derived SO42− uptake and Met-derived CO2 release. The microbial C:N:S ratio dynamics showed rapid C utilisation and loss, stable N levels, and S accumulation. Thus, short-term organic S utilisation by soil microorganisms is determined by amino acid structure whilst long-term organic S utilisation by soil microorganisms is determined by microbially controlled stoichiometry.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (SQ2020YFD10006-02), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31872180 and 31801936), the UK-China Virtual Joint Centre for Agricultural Nitrogen (CINAg. No. BB/N013468/1), and the Newton Fund via UK BBSRC, NERC, and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. The Rothamsted Long-Term Experiments National Capability (LTE-NCG) was supported by the UK Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (No. BBS/E/C/000J0300) and the Lawes Agricultural Trust. The authors thank the curators of the Electronic Rothamsted Archive (e-RA) for access to data from the Rothamsted Long-Term Experiments. The authors also thank Mr Steve Freeman for his assistance with sample collection. YK recognises the Government Program of Competitive Growth of Kazan Federal University and the “RUDN University Program 5-100” for their support.
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Ma, Q., Kuzyakov, Y., Pan, W. et al. Substrate control of sulphur utilisation and microbial stoichiometry in soil: Results of 13C, 15N, 14C, and 35S quad labelling. ISME J 15, 3148–3158 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-00999-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-00999-7
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